Reversible Garment with Detachable Cape

ABSTRACT

A garment comprising a reversible shirt and a cape is disclosed. The reversible shirt has at least an interior side and an exterior side. A first attachment means is fixed to a pair of shoulder portion at the interior side of the shirt adjacent to a collar of the shirt. A second attachment means is fixed proximate a top edge of the cape. As such, the first and second attachment means, such as hook-and-loop type fastening material, cooperate to allow the cape to be selectively attached to the shirt. In use, with the second attachment means of the cape fixed to the first attachment means of the shirt, the shirt may be worn with the cape fixed to the internal side of the shirt and hidden from view. When the shirt is placed in a reversed configuration, such that the interior side is exposed outwardly, the cape is visibly suspended from the shoulder portions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 60/965,372, filed on Aug. 20, 2007, and incorporated hereinby reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may showand/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner.The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to garments, and more particularly to areversible garment with a cape.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Costume garments are well known and comprise a variety of differentdesigns. Costumes of characters, such as super-heroes, typically includea cape. However, when wearing such a costume it is not always desirableto have the cape exposed. For example, when traveling to a costumeparty, a cape can become a nuisance such as while driving, in anelevator, or the like. Further, one might not desire to be in fullcostume until the costume party begins.

As such, a reversible costume would be beneficial. However, typicalcostumes with capes make no provision for reversibility. U.S. Pat. No.5,561,860 to Nguyen-Senderowicz on Oct. 8, 1996, teaches a reversibleshirt. However, no provision is made for attaching a cape to such adevice for use with a caped costume. Further, when indicia (such as asuperhero indicia) is printed on the one side of such a garment, itoften is evident from the other side. This tends to detract from the“incognito” persona of the superhero when “in disguise.”

U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,498 to Vinson on Oct. 27, 1981 teaches a shirthaving a reversing flap. However, such a garment does not provide for acostume having a cape. The flap of such a device is designed to be fixedto either one side or the other of the garment, and is not meant to hangloose from three sides like a cape. Further, such a garment is notdesigned for reversing (that is, configuring inside-out). Still further,such a garment makes no provision for removably attaching a cape.

Therefore, there is a need for a garment that is reversible between afirst “superhero” configuration that includes a selectively removablecape, and a second “incognito” configuration that conceals the cape andobscures any indicia that is visible in the first configuration. Such aneeded device would further allow for selective attachment of the cape,and would be durable and comfortable to wear in either configuration.The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a garment comprising a reversible shirt and acape. The reversible shirt has at least an interior side, an exteriorside, a collar, and a pair of shoulder portions adjacent to the collar.The shirt further includes a front side and a rear side. A front indiciamay be applied to the front side at the exterior side, and a secondindicia may be applied to the front side at the interior side.Preferably the first indicia is larger than the second indicia, andpreferably the first indicia is opaque or otherwise able to obscuresecond indicia when the shirt is configured exterior side facingoutward. The cape has a top edge, a bottom edge, at least two sideedges, a front side and a rear side.

A first attachment means is fixed to each shoulder portion at theinterior side of the shirt. A second attachment means is fixed proximatethe top edge of the cape. As such, the first and second attachment meanscooperate to allow the cape to be selectively attached to the shirt.Such first and second attachment means is preferably a hook-and-looptype fastening material, respectively.

In use, with the second attachment means of the cape fixed to the firstattachment means of the shirt, the shirt may be worn with the cape fixedto the internal side of the shirt and hidden from view. When the shirtis placed in a reversed configuration, such that the interior side isexposed outwardly, the cape is visibly suspended from the shoulderportions. The cape and the shirt may be washed separately and storedseparately as desired.

The present invention is a garment that is reversible between a first“superhero” configuration that includes a selectively removable cape,and a second “incognito” configuration that conceals the cape andobscures any indicia that is visible in the first configuration. Thepresent garment provides for selective attachment of the cape, and isdurable and comfortable to wear in either configuration. Other featuresand advantages of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing more detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a reversibleshirt in a normal configuration from a front side thereof,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention from a rear side thereof,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating thereversible shirt in a reversed configuration from a front side thereof,and a cape selectively fixed to the shirt;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention from a rear side thereof,illustrating the reversible shirt in the reversed configuration and afront side of the cape;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reversible shirt of the inventionfrom a rear side thereof, and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the cape of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a garment 10 comprising a reversible shirt 20 and acape 40. The reversible shirt 20 has at least an interior side 21, anexterior side 26, a collar 28, and a pair of shoulder portions 29adjacent to the collar 28. The 20 shirt further includes a front side 22and a rear side 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The shirt 20 is made from cotton orother suitable fabric. While a shirt 20 is illustrated in the figures,it is to be understood that a tank top (not shown) or other form ofupper torso garment may be substituted without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention.

A front indicia 50 may be applied to the front side 22 at the exteriorside 26 (FIG. 1), and a second indicia 60 may be applied to the frontside 22 at the interior side 21 (FIG. 3). Preferably the first indicia50 is larger than the second indicia 60, and preferably the firstindicia 50 is opaque or otherwise able to obscure second indicia 60 whenthe shirt 20 is configured exterior side 26 facing outward, as inFIG. 1. As various means of applying the indicia 50,60 may cause theindicia to bleed through or otherwise be visible from the opposing sideof the shirt 20, the first indicia 50 is made to obscure the evidence ofsuch bleed through. The first indicia 50 may also be a patch (notshown), for example.

The cape 40 has a top edge 48, a bottom edge 42, at least two side edges45, a front side 43 and a rear side 47. The cape is made from a suitablyflexible fabric or plastic material. Preferably each side edge 45 of thecape is shorter in length than the length of the shirt 20, such that thecape 40 may be completely hidden from view when worn inside the shirt20.

A first attachment means 30 is fixed to each shoulder portion 29 at theinterior side 21 of the shirt 20. A second attachment means 35 is fixedproximate the top edge 48 of the cape 40. As such, the first and secondattachment means 30,35 cooperate to allow the cape 40 to be selectivelyattached to the shirt 20. Such first and second attachment means 30,35is preferably a hook-and-loop type fastening material, respectively.Clearly, however, the first attachment means could also be a loop-typefasting material while the second attachment means 35 could be ahook-type fastening material. Likewise, the first and second attachmentmeans 30,35 may each be one part of a two-part mechanical fastener, suchas mechanical snaps (not shown), button-and-hole arrangements (notshown), zipper arrangements (not shown), or the like. Other fasteningmeans known in the art may also be used, although hook-and-loopfastening material is preferred because it is flexible and may be sewninto the shoulder portions 29 of the shirt 20 as illustrated. Such firstand second fastening means 30,35, in any embodiment, are machinewashable, durable, and reliably allow for selective attachment anddetachment of the cape 40 from the shirt 20.

In use, with the second attachment means 35 of the cape 40 fixed to thefirst attachment means 30 of the shirt 20, the shirt 20 may be worn withthe cape 40 fixed to the internal side 21 of the shirt and hidden fromview (FIG. 1). When the shirt 20 is placed in a reversed configuration(FIG. 3), such that the interior side 21 is exposed outwardly, the cape40 is visibly suspended from the shoulder portions 29 (FIGS. 3 and 4).The cape 40 and the shirt 20 may be washed separately and storedseparately as desired.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, one particular shape of the cape 40 is illustrated in FIG. 6,but it is to be understood that the cape 40 may take any of severalcommon shapes for capes. Accordingly, it is not intended that theinvention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

1. A garment comprising: a reversible shirt having at least an interiorside, an exterior side, a collar, and a pair of shoulder portionsadjacent to the collar, a first attachment means being fixed to eachshoulder portion at the interior side of the shirt; and a cape having asecond attachment means fixed proximate a top edge thereof, the capehaving at least two side edges, a bottom edge, a front side, and a rearside, the second attachment means selectively attachable to the firstattachment means of the reversible shirt; whereby with the secondattachment means fixed to the first attachment means, the shirt may beworn with the cape fixed to the internal side of the shirt and hiddenfrom view, and whereby with the shirt reversed such that the interiorside is exposed outwardly, the cape is visibly suspended from theshoulder portions.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the shirt furtherincludes a front side and a rear side, and wherein the front side of theshirt includes a front indicia on the front exterior side, and a secondindicia on the front interior side.
 3. The garment of claim 2 whereinthe first indicia is larger than the second indicia.
 4. The garment ofclaim 2 wherein the first indicia is opaque.
 5. The garment of claim 1wherein the first and second attachment means are hook-and-loop typefastener material.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the first andsecond attachment means are each one part of a two-part mechanicalfastener.
 7. The garment of claim 6 wherein the two-part mechanicalfastener is a mechanical snap.
 8. The garment of claim 6 wherein thetwo-part mechanical fastener is a button and button hole arrangement. 9.The garment of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means areeach one part of a zipper fastener.
 10. The garment of claim 1 whereineach side edge of the cape is shorter in length than the length of theshirt, whereby the cape is completely hidden from view when worn insidethe shirt.